Keyboard for mechanical shorthand writing machines



April 25, 1950 L. HOLMES, JR

Filed Aug. 4, 1947 KEYBOARD FOR MECHANICAL SHORTHAND WRITING MACHINES fF-gui.

:s @EV 7 iii i4, '7 @E E@ NVEN TOR. LAWRENCE HOL/15.5, z.

H T TOR/Vey.

Vtape as is vprovided -in'isuchmachinea Patented Apr. 25, 1950 'KEYBOARD FOR MECHANICAL SHORTHAND WRITING MACHINES Lawrence Holmes, Jr., Riverside, Calif.

Application August 4, 1947, SerialNo. 765,900

4 Claims.

l "This invention relates to a keyboard for stenographic machines. V EWhile many forms of such machines have been suggested in the past, only one form has lsurvived in this country and is widely used.

This is represented by the Stenotype and the Stenograph' machines. These namesV are trade names for machines fundamentally the same in principle and manufactured-by the Stenotype Company of Chicago, Illinois, and the Hedman Company of"Chicago, Illinois, respectively.

Essentially theseiaremodications of the typewriter, carrying movableit'ype actuated by keys which, when depressed, move the type bars so as to strike a platen "ovenwhich a paper vstrip passes froina fee'denrolh V7These machines are so well known that n `1further iden'tication seems necessary.

This inventionrelatesto a modification of the keyboard `of these machines ywhich facilitates their operation and permits of a substantial increasein speed andaccuracy in'their manipulation.

The object of my keyboard is to provide such an arrangement'of/"theV keys, which actuate the type bars of what is-lknown in this art as the final consonants of the keyboardyto increase the 'facility oformina the necessary combinations o'i these nal :consonants which arerequired in printing the 'letters and, letterY combinations `which are ernpoyed lin this system of Stenoe graphic recording;

These final consonants Y`and combinations thereof are struck'by the lingers of `the richt hand. I havelound thatI yrnavssoarrange'the spacing of the keys :for such lfinal consonants that I may strike Ythese/keys, in order to print these iinal consonants and'ltheir combinations, from a natural position of the right hand and with a minimum fof finger manipulation; The right lhand maybe placedffin its 'natural position `on the keyboard, thuszavoidingthe `twisting and curling of th'e-ngers which--act to reduce sneed and introducefinacclniaciesfon manipulation.

I accomplish this-:result by providing one key toY `actuate each of the nal consonants F, R, second P, B, `lat, vsecond -T, S, D, andrnal S type bars whichmovesaid :letters `to strike the I arrange said keys inrows, eachy row containing a pair of keysfso/.that each may be istruckfsepaspace 4or linetbetween athe-.keys ineach Vrow :is thus provided. The.arrangementofthese,separation spaces or lines is such that if a median line is drawn acrossith'e' right hand position of the keyboard, theseparationffspace betweenthe `keys -zfor that flettersiF :andz iR; .iandff :between vthe keys of: theilettenr'llrand'itthe second S, and ibeitiveenathefkeys ,forzfthesletter fD'andizthe -inal flet- (Cl.v 15H- 100),

ters-'would be belowthe median line (i.A e., closest 't'otheoperatorig'while the separation space betwee'nthe `secondP and the letter Band the vseparation space between the letters L and G would be above the median line (i. e., farthest away from the operator);

lBysuch an arrangement I obtain the tages described above.

I haveffound,;however, that the arrangement of the keys for the type bars which actuate the initial.y letter S andithe 0type bars which actuate the initial consonant lettersT, K, initial P, W, H, R, the asterisk, and the space bar aswell `as those for the letters A, O, E, and U should be left in their conventional position as 'on the present commercial machines. The best arrangement' for the left hand is in its natural position to permit the striking of these keys `singly and in combination, with a minimurndistortion of thepositionr of the iingers. This isin contradistinction to the operation with the right hand as described above.

' My invention and its advantages will be further described in connection with thendrawing, in which Fig. 1 is asclfematic illustration of the keyboard-of fthe lconventional commercial machine;

Fig; 2 is a schematic showing of the keyboard ernployinfzr my invention; and

Fig. 3 is an illustration of the typeand the type ar-rangement astfor'med by such a machine.

'tion of the tape as the tape moves over the platen. The type is arranged to strike the letl'ters and symbol in the sequence S T K P W II R A 0'* E U FR'P B'L G T S D S. The letter S appears three times and is referred to in the l'order of its appearance as the initial S, the second S, and the final S. The letter P a'ppears twice and isreferred to in the order of its Vappearance as the initial and the nal P. Likewisestheletter T appears Vtwice and ist re- `fer-red to. in the order of its appearance as 'the initial T and the final T. Also the letter R appears .twiceand is referred to in the order of ',keyhnard, :appears: as shown in thev schematic S, and following are the pairs of the initial consonants, initial T, K, initial P, W, H, initial R, and the asterisk and space key. The rst pair,

initial T, K, is arrangedwith the initial letter T above the letter K, i. e., the letter T is farther away from the operator than is the letter K. In like manner the initial letter P is above the letter W, and the letter H above the initial letter i R. Thus, the keys for initial T and K are separated by a space 10, the keys for initial P and W by a space 'il and the keys H andR by a space 2 12, and the keys for the asterisk and the space by a space 13. These pairs are on the left of the longitudinal axis 'I4 and are intended to be struck by the left hand.

In like manner the keys F, nal R, nal P, B, L, G, final T, second S, D, and nal S are all positioned on the right hand side of the longitudinal axis 'I4 and are arranged in pairs as shown with F and nal R one above the other and separated by a Vseparation space 15; the key for the letter :f

P above that of B separated by a separation space 16, the key for the letter L above that of G separated by a separation space 11, the key for letter final T above that for the second S separated by a separation space 18, and the key for the letter D above that for the final letter S separated by a separation space 19. These keys are adapted to be struck by the right hand.

In the lower row the key letters A and O are arranged in a pair separated by a separation space 80 and are arranged on the left hand side of the axis 14. The keys for letters E and U are arranged in a pair spaced from A and O, with the letter E on the axis 14 and U to the right of the letter E, separated by a separation space 8|.

It will also be observed that the separation spaces l0, 1l, 12, 13, 15, 1B, 1l, 18, and 'I9 are arranged in a line on the transverse axis 82.

In the form of the keyboard of my invention the keyboard on the left of the longitudinal axis f 82, corresponding to 'M of Fig. 1, is the same as in the form shown in Fig l. The arrangement on the right of the longitudinal axis 82, Fig. 2, cori responding to l!! of Fig. 1, is, however, diierent.'

axis 88 corresponding to 82 of Fig. 1 and passing through the separation spaces between the left hand. initial consonants which line up. However, it is not essential that this median line be coincident with the transverse axis although it is the preferred form.

It is preferred that the separation spaces 84 and 85 be in line and the separation spaces 83,

88, and 8l' also be in line, and that the separa- -fticn spaces 84 and 85 be as much above the axis 88 as are the separation spaces 83, 86 and 81 below that line. This distance of the separation spaces above and below the axis 88 is such as to permit easy reach by the ngers of the right hand when the hand is in its normal position on the keyboard. While such spaces and alignment are preferred it is not essential so long as the separation spaces 84 and 85 are above and the separation spaces 83, 85, and 8l are below such median line.

The utility of my arrangement can be best described, it is believed, by comparing the manipulation of the form of Fig. 1 with that of Fig. 2 in formulating the combinations as employed by skilled operators.

Due to the fact there are only ten iingers on the hands and twenty-six letters in the alphabet,

- `it is apparent that, to produce the alphabet, at

, ters by using combinations of other letters.

fil)

times it Will be necessary to make certain let- In the following description the combinations of letters are identified by numerals as shown in Fig'. 3. They are formed as follows:

Initial consonants The letter initial S (2) is used in most systems as the sound s, soft c, and ex when such prex precedes a consonant. The next letter is initial T (3), and the next letter is K (4). When T and K are struck together, the fourth ngei' striking on the separation space l0, the letters as they appear on the tape TK (5) are read as the letter D. The next letter is initial P (6) When T and P are struck together they appear as TP (7) and are read from the tape as F. When the letters K and initial P are struck together they appear as KP (8) and are read from the tape as ex when preceding vowel sounds and letter x in the alphabet. The next letter is W (9). When TKPW (10) are struck in combination with each other by striking the separation spaces 78 and it they are read from the tape as the letter G. The letters initial P and W when struck together by striking the separation vspace 'Il appear as PW (l1) and are read from the tape as the letter B. The next letter is I-I (12). When initial P and H are struck together they appear as PH (1B) and are read from the tape as the letter M. When the letters TPH (14) are struck in'combination with each other they are read from the tape as the letter N. The next'letter is initial R (l5). When the letters I-I and R are struck together by striking the separation space 'I2 they appear as HR (16) and are read from the tape as the letter L. When the letters KW (17) are struck together' they are read from the tape as Q in the alphabet and qu in phonetic spelling. The letters KWR (18) when struck together are read from the tape as the letter Y. The letters SKWR (20) when struck together are read from the tape as the letter J. The letters S'I'PI-I (21) when struck together are read as the question mark The letters STKPWI-IR (22) when struck together simultaneously, the letter S, and the separation spaces lll, ll, and 12 are read as question in writing testimony. This group of letters is ref ferred to as the question bank and is used only to designate that a question is asked of a witness. This is inserted immediately prior to the question.

Vowels The next group of letters is known as the vowels, consisting of the letters on the keyboard AOEU (23) which are operated by the thumb on each hand. The letters EU .(24) whenv struck together by striking 8| are read from the tape upon 'the system used" by the Awriter einem 5 as letter f. *'lneletters AOswhenfstrucktogether lare read; iromfthe tape "as the sound 09; 'The asterisk 'Z6y strikes'on the tapebetween the'"letters 'O andflE, and thiskey isoperatedl by the index` 'finger/of either `hand.

The keyboard, up 'to and includingy theI vpoint herein described?, fis ventirelyl satisfactory,` and have found that 4tl-iefposition" of tlresekeys and the separation spaces betweenitherrrsfhoul not be-changed, asVV any change in their' conventional position lwould `result only destroy-ing' more {combinati-ions thany such Echange could possibly improve. Most Stenotypists dWhen-1employing; lthe''constentionalfkeyboardffof Figt have-found? much dificulty in writing certain combinations-formed binations efthe finalfconsonants. "Th'esewd'iniculties are-"obviatedby employingri-th'e arrange- Finalii consonants I shall describe belowfiirstythe combinations as they appear on the conventional keyboard as shown in Fig; 1, employing `the conventional arrangement; and, second", asthey appear in Fig. 2, employing theA arrangement 'oi' my* invention.

The rst- 'letter of""ftl."`1"e' Vfinal consonant group is F, and this follows vimmediately after vvthe asterisk. The nextletter is nal'R. "The letters Awhen struck togetherappear as RB ('32) 'andi are `reaol as SH. :The letters'FPB '(33)' Whenlstruc'k together bystriking the separation space .16 are kread as FN (e. g., as"inthe word given,?"pho has been 'lengthenedi Vor extended toward the operator, thusmoving the space 15` between the "F and R toward the operatorbelow themedian level 35B. 'The P"'ke`y*has`been shortened, `the B key lengthened, 'thus moving the separation 'space away vfrom theoperator to aboveV the median line 88; 'This perniitsthe index linger to depress Vthe letter and `atV the'l 'same time" the third. Engerv may depress the letters PBgor'N-l in aposition opposite, andare readfromthe tape as the ,sound RF' (36)` '(e. g; serve); On the 'conventional keyboardstriking the FRr by placing the indexv linger on theseparati'onspace to also print at the same time with theztlrdlng'jer the letter B, it is necessary to curl ythe third' ror middle nger under'. On mykeyboard, due-izo the fact that the space 83 has been movedtoward the operator anditlieBkey lengthened-,awavfrom the operator, it is possiblefto depressthe keys ERB by placing the index finger` on' ythe" space 83 with the mddlennger'directly Yop'l'aosit'e on the :when strucktogether appear asBG'O', :andare readi from vthe tape'as'tl'ieletter/K. j -PBBG (4l) Aforn'red by striking 'spaces 'Bti and*V 8jsimu1tane `ouslyis"used in two differentzways 5depenclins "'Thefmore commonfsystemf uses' thisgroupofletters tof-Sindicate the letter J. Another well knownwsystem uses this group of letters to indicate'. the .sound "th," Where itis afinal `consonantal diagraph, as in forth 4Written as TPORPBLG (42'). 'The next letter is nal T (43).. The letters PLT-(44) `when struck together' 'are read fromV the'taperas `the -suix mentf rasin cement written SEPLT '645). The letters FPLT (46) When-A struck together arey read from the tape as the period (I) The `letter lfinal T is also vusedfto indicate 'the suilixes ate ity," and, in somev instancesit and et `(e. g., vacate, purity,fsunnnit, ,ticket91, shown in Acolumn Un Fig. 3 under 47.

"The next letter is the second S448). 'Thelet- "ters G- and S appear' as GS (li-9)' and when struck together in combination With `other letterszuon the keyboard areread from the tape a-s fshalg tial, tious, siem ticnf iticn,'' ation (e. g., marshal, martial, cautious, missionpexecution, apparition, manipulation) `shown in-` col.- umn as Sii. The letter-SB; G, and seconds-when -struck together appearas BGS (5i) and areuread `from thetape as the letter X' or KS. The letters RBGS l(52), Where Sis theseconddS, when 'struck together `are read from the .tape as' the Vcoi/nina The next letter is D' (53)A` This letter is used not-only for WordsV ending Liny D,

but'also to indicate the past tense of verbs. `.T`ne next letter isnal S' (54)'y and `indicates theiplural' of Words ending lin D. Theselatter .tWo-keys are operated by the saine linger l(-'namely, 'the littleiinger) as are the T and the secondsikeys. This is the only ringer on either handfwhich 35 'operates more than* two-keys.

Anr

The combination (-'5.v-) vis used to indicate Aat'56. On mykeybcardthe 'ii'ngeringof this cem- 4bination has been `much -s-impliiied by vreason` of `the spacei being moved' toward the operator vand the' spaces- '8 @landli 8 t being moved? away from the'operator', enabling `the combination FBG to be struck by merelyplacing the `iingers `inca -straight Vline'. vstriking o'f -thesefl'etters necessitates `straighten- Onthe conventional' keyboard the ingthef indexnger andi-reaching 'for theFwhile at'the'same -tme'turning-the middle and fourth fingers under to-strike the-fBCkeys. A lgreat many Words vend with the sound' kt and there areV a great many phrases which haverthe BG (210)` followed by 'i (431)'. 'The letteriK struck as BGf'l'lO) is -an-abbreviation ier can." in all systems and.`` the`- letter C43)r an. abbreviation for it andltheyV and this keyboard' facilitates the' fingering of because' thespace 86 has been `moved'towardE the operator.' and `the spaces V'ill and 85"have been moveduaway'irom-lthe operator. 'Tlfii's'meansg a'swlill. be seenrfrom'lig. 2, that/EGT can'. be struck by placing :the lingers in' la straight line, Heretufore; employingV the iorm of Fig. l to strike the combination. BGT, employing theafin'ai T, it `wasfrieeessary tto-'turn thev hand tothe right ibe'causevithe little: finger been adifiicultconibination to Write. This com- 'Jbination has also necessitatedthe lturn of.' the .handL Onmykeyhoard the space `iilfhas :been

l speed writing.

the little ringer.

7 The letters FRPB (57), employing the nal R and P, are used in some systems for the sound rch, as in church, see 58. The letters FRPBLG (59), employing the final R and P, are

used in some systems to indicate the sound nch, as in branch see 60. Both of these combinations are simplified by my arrangement of the keys. The letters LGTS (6l), employing the linal T and second S, are used in some systems for the sound tl, as in bottlej metal," shown in column at 62, This combination is also used in some systems to indicate the word did see 61, and sometimes little This combination on the conventional keyboard of Fig. 1 has always been a very difficult combination to finger,

vdue to the fact that the fourth linger and little --nger must be placed squarely upon these keys in order to produce a clear outline in the notes. I have found that very often, due to the shortness of the little linger, the letter lfinal T in this group has been erroneously omitted in high- On my keyboard the space 85 has been moved toward the operator, while the space 85' has been moved away, thus placing these four keys squarely beneath the natural position ofY these two fingers. The letters LGDS (63),

L11-employing the final S, are used to indicate the ending dl (e. g., medal, middle, shown in column at 64) and are written on the machine by placing the fourth finger on the space 85, skipping the space 86 and striking the space 83 with On my keyboard this combination has been simplified, as has the next preceding described combination.

The letters FRPBLGTS (65), employing the final P and T and second S, when struck together by striking the spaces 83, 84, 85, and 86 are read from the tape as answen This group of letters is referred to as the answer bank and is used only to designate that an answer follows.

at the eXtreme left of the Stenotype keyboard, is .really one key, the little nger may operate this key by barely touching the end of it. The

same relative position in connection with the4 right hand brings a different problem because,

while the initial S is operated with the little `finger of the left hand, it will be seen that the little nger of the right hand operates four keys,

i the final T, the second S, the D, and final S keys. On the conventional keyboard, to strike the answer bank necessitates the placing of the index 'ringer and the little nger in a straightened position while at the same time curling the middle finger and fourth finger in order to place thorn.,A

in a straight row upon the straight space. In high-speed writing, such fingering combinations are dincult. On my keyboard the whole answer bank may be struck by merely dropping the ngers in a natural position on the right-hand side of the keyboard. Y

In contradistinction to the improvement made by the arrangement of Fig. 2 for the right-hand side ofthe keyboard, the left side, or initial consonant side, of the Stenotype keyboard should not be changed in any respect because such com- Another combination which would be I believe that a keyboard which lincorporates into the left hand the same principle as I have incorporated into the right hand would put the operator in a position not materially an improvement over the present keyboard of Fig. 1, for while it will improve the right-hand side of the keyboard, it will worsen the left-hand side. Arranging the keys of the left hand to appear similar to those of the right hand will actually destroy more combinations than it would improve. Of course, if this disadvantage is accepted or if some other arrangement of keys introduces any desired improvement, the arrangement of the right-hand side of the keyboard as described above will give the advantageous operation of the nal consonant keys and combinations described above.

WhileI have described a particular embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it should Abe understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the .spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A keyboard for stenographic writing machines, comprising a group of keys for actuating the initial consonant letters S, T, K, P, W, H, and

. R andthe symbol asterisk and a space mechanism, all of said keys arranged on the left of the longitudinal axis-of the keyboard, said keys being arranged in rows with the rst row composed of the S key and the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows composed of pairs of keys one spaced above the other and separated therefrom by a separation space, the pair comprising the second row being composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the. key for the letter K, the third row being composed of the key for the letter P spaced Due to the fact that the initial S, which appears above the key for W, the fourth row being composed of the key for vthe letter H spaced above the kevfor R, and the ftb row being composed of the key for the asterisk spaced above the space key, the .separation spaces for each of the second to the `fifth rows, inclusive, being spaced in a line, said'k'eyboard also containing a group of keys spaced on the .right-hand side of the longitudinal. axis of the keyboard for actuating the nal consonants R,.P, B, L, G, T, second S, D, andL final S, said keys being arranged in ve rows, each row composed of. two keys one above the other, and the keys in each row Separated from .each other by a separation space, the first row being composed of the key for F. spaced above the key for R, the second rowcomposed of the key for the letter P .spaced over the key for B` the third row composed of the key for L spaced above the kev for G. the fourth row composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the second S, and the fifth row composed of the key for D spaced above the kev for the nal S, the separation spaces for the rstfourth, and fifth rows of said keys for the final consonants being spaced below said first-mentioned line of separation spaces for the keys on the left of the longi- -tudinal axis,.and the separation spaces for the second and third rows of keys in the rows on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis being spaced above the said first-mentioned line of .separation spaces of the keys, on the left-hand side .of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard.

2. .A keyboard for stenographic writing machinos, comprising a group, of keys for actuating the initial consonant letters S, T, K, P, W, H, and R and the symbol asterisk and a space mechanism, all .of .said keys arranged on the left of the longitudinal axis of thelkeyboard, said keys being arranged in rows with the first row composed of the S key and the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows composed of pairs of keys one spaced above the other and separated therefrom by a separation space, the pair comprising the second row being composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the letter K, the third row being composed of the key for the letter P spaced above the key for W, the fourth row being composed of the key for the letter H spaced above the key for R, and the fifth row being composed of the key for the asterisk spaced above the space key, the separation spaces for each of the second to the fifth rows, inclusive, being spaced in a straight line on the transverse axis of the keyboard, said keyboard also containing a group of keys spaced on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard for actuating the final consonants F, R, P, B, L, G, T, second S, D, and final S, said keys being arranged in five rows, each row composed of two keys one above the other, and the keys in each row separated from each other by a separation space, the first row being composed of the key for F spaced above the key for R, the second row composed of the key for the letter P spaced over the key for B, the third row composed of the key for L spaced above the key for G, the fourth row composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the second S, and the fifth row composed of the key for D spaced above the key for the final S, the separation spaces for the first, fourth, and fifth rows of said keys for the final consonants being spaced below said first-mentioned line of separation spaces for the keys on the left of the longitudinal axis, and the separation spaces for the second and third rows of keys in the rows on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis being spaced above the said first-mentioned line of separation spaces of the keys on the left-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard.

3. A keyboard for stenographic writing machines, comprising a group of keys for actuating the initial consonant letters S, T, K, P, W, H, and R and the symbol asterisk and a space mechanism, al1 of said keys arranged on the left of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard, said keys being arranged in rows with the first row composed of the S key and the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows composed of pairs of keys one spaced above the other and separated therefrom by a separation space, the pair comprising the second row being composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the letter K, the third row being composed of the key for the letter P spaced above the key for W, the fourth row being composed of the key for the letter H spaced above the key for R, and the fifth row being composed of the key for the asterisk spaced above the space key, the separation spaces for each of the second to the fifth rows, inclusive, being spaced in a line, said keyboard also containing a group of keys spaced on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard in two transverse lines for actuating the final consonants F, R, P, B, L, G, T, second S, D, and final S, said keys being arranged in five rows, each row composed of two keys one above the other, and the keys in each row separated from each other by a separation space, the first row being composed of the key for F spaced above the key for R, the second row composed of the key for the letter P spaced over the key for IB. the third row composed of the key for L spaced above the key for G, the fourth row composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the second S, and the fifth row composed of the key for D spaced above the key for the final S, the separation spaces for the first, fourth, and fifth rows of said keys for the nal consonants being spaced below said first-mentioned line of separation spaces for the keys on the left of the longitudinal axis, and the separation spaces for the second and third rows of keys in the rows on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis being spaced in a straight line above the said first-mentioned line of separation spaces of the keys on the left-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard.

4. A keyboard for stenographic writing machines, comprising a group of keys for actuating the initial consonant letters S, T, K, P, W, H, and R and the symbol asterisk and a space mechanism, all of said keys arranged on the left of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard, said keys being arranged in rows with the first row composed of the S key and the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows composed of pairs of keys one spaced above the other and separated therefrom by a separation space, the pair comprising the second row being composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the letter K, the third row being composed of the key for the letter P spaced above the key for W, the fourth row being composed of the key for the letter H spaced above the key for R, and the fifth row being composed of the key for the asterisk spaced above the space key, the separation spaces for each of the second to the fifth rows, inclusive, being spaced in a straight line on the transverse axis of the keyboard, said keyboard also containing a group of keys spaced on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard in two transverse lines for actuating the final consonants F, R, P, B, L, G, T, second S, D, and final S, said keys being arranged in five rows, each row composed of two keys one above the other, and the keys in each row separated from each other by a separation space, the first row being composed of the key for F spaced above the key for R, the second row composed of the key for the letter P spaced over the key for B, the third row composed of the key for L spaced above the key for G, the fourth row composed of the key for the letter T spaced above the key for the second S, and the fifth row composed of the key for D spaced above the key for the final S, the separation spaces for the first, fourth, and fifth rows of said keys for the final consonants being spaced below said rst-mentioned line of separation spaces for the keys on the left of the longitudinal axis, and the separation spaces for the second and third rows of keys in the rows on the right-hand side of the longitudinal axis being spaced in a straight line above the said first-mentioned line of separation spaces of the keys on the left-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the keyboard.

LAWRENCE HOLMES, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Edwards et a1. Apr. 17, 1917 Number 

